I'm Moving

Here. <----

Even the Chapel Has Stained Glass

I never really thought I would get a tattoo, much less, seventeen of them.

Yeah, seventeen.

Quite contrarily, I was always one of those people who, when it came to tattoos, immediately thought of the scripture in 1 Corinthians that reminds us that our body is a Holy temple.

And well, while I can’t actually say that I stopped thinking of that scripture, I will say that my interpretation of it shifted a bit…because, even the chapel has stained glass, right? That’s probably a bad reference, but, that’s where my mind went with it. And thus, began my dabbling in the vast world of tattoos, at the ripe age of 18 years old.

Yeah, eighteen.

At that age, I wasn’t making the best decisions, and definitely wasn’t mature enough to be making decisions involving something as permanent as a tattoo. So...needless to say, at the start, I wasn’t getting tattoos that meant something to me, I was more into word play and being, what I thought was at the time, clever.

If a picture is worth a thousand words, be prepared for information overload, 'cause you’ll be getting a little of both.

#1-Wasscawy Wabbit
Where: Chest

I can remember sitting at my desk one summer while ‘working’ for my grandparents in Oklahoma, and deciding that I wanted a tattoo. My grandfather, a pastor, would not have been a very happy camper with my going through with such a thing on his watch, so I decided I’d wait until I returned home to Alabama to bring this new desire to fruition. At some point during that summer, sitting behind my desk doing not much of anything, I thought of how ‘clever’ it would be for me to have the Playboy bunny tattooed on my chest, but instead of the word “Playboy”, I’d get “Playful”. I know you’re shaking your head right now…and I know this, because I’m shaking mine. What a stupid idea. Surely, I didn’t go through with that one. Surely, at eighteen, in my awkward, tomboyish state of being, I would not go through with the idea of getting the international icon for “sexy” tattooed on my caramel kissed skin, right? RIGHT?! Dot…dot…dot…WRONG. When I returned to Alabama, that’s exactly what I did, and I did so with absolute confidence, there wasn’t a person in the world at that moment who could have swayed me from making a complete asshole out of myself. And so, I did.

I’d like to say that I got a little smarter, but, I was eighteen, afterall—you don’t really expect an eighteen year old to be that smart…but I guess you don’t expect an eighteen year old to be that dumb either.

My next tattoo was another feeble attempt to demonstrate my innate ability to be witty. Except, I wasn’t. At all.

It’s true what they say, once you get ONE tattoo, your mind is instantaneously flooded with endless possibilities of tattoos that you SHOULD HAVE gotten, or, COULD get...and that, is how you become addicted. It wasn’t much longer after my first ink faux pas, that I went through with the next.

#2-Hotstuff

Where: Lower/Right Side of Back
At the time, there was a phrase, possibly only used in the urban community (which, by way of attending an HBCU, I was, for the first time in my life, becoming acquainted with), and it was: THAT FIRE. In laymen’s terms, one would use the phrase ‘That Fire’ to refer to something that was “awesome”, “the bees knees”, “overwhelming”, “remarkable”, “breathtaking”…and well, you get the point. So, again, I thought…how clever would it be if I got the Chinese symbol for ‘fire’ and had the words “Dat Fiya” tattooed beneath it”…WHERE WAS MY GUIDANCE?! It probably would have helped had I actually SOUGHT guidance before going through with such nonsense. ...and its location on the lower right side of my back, makes it especially classy.

Thankfully, after tattoo #2, I started to realize that my tattoos should mean something to me, as, they would in fact be a permanent extension of me...so, it gets better going forward.

#3-Ahnk You, Ahnk You Very Much Where: Base/Backside of Neck
The Ahnk is the Egyptian symbol for life (aka 'Key of Life', crux ansata). It looks a lot like a cross, but with a loop at the top. The stem represents male, the loop represents female, and the two side posts represent offspring. I chose this one for a pretty simplistic reason, because I believe life, and the cycle of it, is precious, every bit of it...

#4-Pleasure Principle Where: Abdomen/Below Belly Button
A slight departure from the meaningful. I mean, it does mean something, but I sort of ventured back to witticism (or maybe irony?) with tattoo #4 and its placement. It's the Chinese symbol for the word "Pleasure". Hey, it is, what it is.

#5-The Lotus Flower Where:Pelvic Area
The fact that it's a flower and placed so closely to my...well, there's an obvious correlation there, but nevermind placement, it's all about what a lotus represents. Zhou Dunyi said it best when he said "I love the lotus because while growing from mud, it is unstained." In case you're unfamiliar, a lotus' roots are planted in the bottom of a pond/river and its leaves float on the water's surface, and its flowers blossom above it. Symbolically, it actually reminds me a lot of a poem by rapper, Tupac Shakur:

I sort of feel that despite circumstances, situtations, and surroundings ...I maintain. So the lotus was an appropriate choice. Aside from that, in many cultures, the lotus represents several other things, feel free to familiarize yourself a bit if you like.

#6-At the Cross
Where: Back of Left Shoulder
This one is simply to remind me that Christ bore the weight of the world on his shoulders...his death, gave us life, and that's something that should never be forgotten. There is a banner draping the cross that says "Live" ...as in, live life.

#7-Butterfly in the Sky
Where: Right Hip
Most people have a hard time even determining what this one is, so, I'll just tell you (that's what I'm here to do, afterall). It's a butterfly with the wings folded back behind it. Now that I've cleared that up...have you ever seen a butterfly trapped inside a jar? It's just not natural...I mean, butterflies are beautiful little creatures (after they get past that creepy, crawly stage anyway) that are supposed to fly free. I don't fit inside glass jars, boxes, or cages...so this one symbolizes freedom of self and I decided to add a trailblaze marking the path.

#8-Poca Flaunt This Where: Top/Right Foot
This tattoo symbolizes part of my heritage. I know, I know, eeeeverybody's Native American (and isn't it funny that the tribe is almost always 'Cherokee')...but I really AM. I was born in the foothills of the Ozark Mountains in northeast Oklahoma...aka, Tulsa. Anyhow, my granny Pearl was 100% full-blooded Creek (aka Muskogee) Indian. I got these feathers on my foot in rememberance of her, and as a representation of my heritage.

#9 & #10-'Music to My Ears'

Where: 1 Behind each Ear

...the phrase says it all.

#11-Nevermind Redbull, Music is What Gives Me Wings
Where: Left/Hip
I designed this one myself, a heart with angel's wings, with a G-clef symbol at its core. It basically represents my love for music.

#12-Family Ties Where: Inner/Right Wrist
Family is very important to me. I'm closer to some, than others, but all of them have played some role, no matter how small, in me becoming the person that I am today. One family member that I'm closest with, aside from my mother, is my younger cousin, Maurice. He's actually more like a little brother to me, that kid is my heart. We decided we would get a tattoo that both symbolizes our bond, and our love of family. I chose the word 'Family' (the F is the one popularized by the 'Famous Stars & Straps' logo) accented with 2 back-to-back R's--one for Robyn, and one for 'Reese', which is what I call him for short. I got mine first, on the inner side of my wrist and some time after, he got his on his forearm.

#13 & 14-Oh.My.Stars
Where: Left/Right Abdomen
I always wanted nautical stars, but when I finally decided to get them, it dawned on me that in the tattoo world, they were a tad overdone. And so, I decided to be slightly different, mine are tribal stars. Each of the 5 points represents something different: one love, one life, one destiny, one heart, one soul.

#15-Artist's Monogram Where: Inner/Left Wrist

You know how an artist signs their artwork? I decided that I am my mother's work of art, so, I had her permanently sign me, accented with my birth year and the copyright symbol.

#16-Heartstrings Where: Chest/Shoulder
I was most excited about this tattoo. You know why? No? Well, I wrote about it once, some of my best work...complete w/video, take a pause and read about it HERE

#17-Why the Long Face? Where: Left Arm
After my first trip to City of Ink, I knew it was the only place I ever wanted to get ink from again. One trip to the shop, and I knew that each and every artist there was just as talented as Miya. The second go-round at City of Ink, my tattoo artist was Sophie C'est La Vie.
I knew EXACTLY what I wanted...sort of. There's a quote by author/poet, Maya Angelou, that I fell in love with years ago, "music was my refuge, I could crawl in the space between the notes and curl my back to the loneliness"...I love the quote because it sort of embodies how I feel about music...no matter what kind of mood I'm in, it just always has a way of speaking to, understanding, and consoling me (click HERE for the 'napkin review'). Anyway, I walked in with that quote and I said to Sophie, "I want this quote, but I don't want words." She understood, and left me for about 20 or so minutes, when she returned she had her visual interpretation of the quote, which I happened to love.

...and, well, there you have it.

everything + the kitchen sink volume 1.0

...just a bunch of random stuff about yours truly, that you prolly didn't know...

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• when it comes to sleeping arrangements...i prefer to sleep on my couch, as opposed to my bed. on the occasion that i do actually sleep in the bed, i usually lay sideways (across the bed, instead of the long ways)...in the fetal position, roly-poly style!

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• i've been electrocuted--twice. the first time, it involved a screwdriver & an electrical socket. the second time, a butterknife & the heating elements on the inside of a toaster. smh.

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• when i was little, i had a pet rabbit named samantha. that is, until mom & i went out of town on WINTER vacation (at the time, we were living in Maryland)...and mom insisted that sam would be perfectly fine OUTSIDE, in her cage. needless to say, mom was wrong. dead wrong.

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• my childhood afflictions included: asthma (having my furry friend, samantha, didn't help...which is why i was convinced that her death was totally premeditated), chronic nosebleeds, and the worse acne you ever did see!

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• i've only ever been to two weddings in my lifetime. i was a bridesmaid in both.

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• i hate riding with my windows all the way up, even when it's raining. also, i never use the A/C in my car).

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• i don't like eating crunchy vegetables...like peppers and onions. i just can't really tolerate the crunch they make in my mouth.

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• i once had a secret pet crawfish (or is it crawdad?) named leroy...i caught him in a filthy, filthy pond in california. i like to think i rescued him...i guess he was so overcome with joy and appreciation, that his little crawfish heart couldn't take it, 'cause he died a few days after his deliverance. it was either the joy, or the plastic cup i hid him in [i n m y r o o m] wasn't an adequate enough living space for him. poor leroy.

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• i once kept a bowl of cereal in my room for so long that it turned to white 'jello'. i'm pretty sure i did it on purpose.

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• a few years ago, i was out by myself at a bar, and someone drugged me (slipped something in my drink(s). luckily, the employees at the particular bar i was at, are friends, and when they noticed my lethargy (knowing i'd only had a few drinks), immediately called the paramedics. according to the drug test i was given, i tested positive for everything except for marijuana. SCARY.

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• by the time i turned 18, i'd lived in 2 countries, 8 states, went to 7 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 3 high schools....all thanks to my dear ol' uncle sam.

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• i have weighed w/in 10lbs of the same weight, for the past 12 years (at least) ...coincidentally, no other part of me has grown since then either. o_O

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• at the age of 28 (29, in 25 days), i still watch cartoons. i should mention that i have no kids, nor nieces or nephews...or any contact with kids in general. hey, don't judge me.

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• one year in high school, i was nominated for prom queen. i was sure someone was trying to set me up like carrie. i didn't go.

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• i ate sushi for the first time, this year. it was on my bucketlist . . .and God knows, i thought for sure i was gonna kick the bucket when i put that raw tuna & salmon in my mouth... you can watch the video below, to see for yourself...just click play!

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ok...that's all for now folks, stay tuned for volume 2!!!

update 4.4.2010

okay, so, i haven't been blogging like i should. i apologize to the few of you who actually read this. i'ma do better, forgive me, k?

welp, now that we have the preliminaries out of the way, i figure the best place to get started, is where i left off.

1. try sushi-done. it wasn't pretty, but, i got it done.

2. make better/wiser decisions.

well, i guess this remains to be seen, but, i feel i'm doing a much better job in 2010, thus far, than ever before. this is an on-going goal, so, i'll keep you all posted.

3. be more open to communication.

this one is pretty easy, because people rarely call me anymore. it would be easier to determine how well i'm doing at this one, if my phone were blowing up...but it doesn't anymore, not even with texts. makes me feel sort of unimportant, just kidding. kind of.

4. resume guitar lessons.

not yet...my funds won't let me be great. so this one, is on hold.

5. write/blog more.

i was doing well at this one for a while...the writing part moreso than the blogging, but alas, i've fallen off on both fronts now. i've got to do better with this, and i will. it would help if you guys n gals would offer up some support, or even suggestions as to what i should blog about. thanks in advance.

6. get a great job!

um, working on it...like, you have no idea.

7. save money.

um, see #4.

8. go to miami 5/13/2010.

not likely. like i said, my funds won't let me be great. however, it is on the agenda for 5/13/2011. you just wait 'n see.

9. return to isle of palms, sc for hotel carolina 2010.

despite my funds not letting me great, this WILL happen. the beachhouse i will be sharing with my 2009 hotel carolina cohorts, is reserved. now, it's just a matter of counting down the 144 days.

10. dress up more (age appropriate).

okay, i think i've decided that there is what is me, and, what is not. i'm comfortable being who i am. i have decided to dress for occasion, and not to fit some sort of mold.

11. get clavicle/collarbone implant.

um, this one is back on the list, since i accidentally ripped it out, twice.

12. get another tattoo by miya bailey.

this is still on the list. i want desperately to get a half sleeve. and i will. give me time.

13. go skydiving.

i still want to do this. maybe by the summer's end.

14. take an art[istic] class.

again, see #4.

15. pay at off least one high $ bill.

2010 ain't over yet.

16. print photos/start albums.

gonna do this, haven't yet, but i definitely will. i take photos like crazy, so it's one of my serious goals.

17. cook more.

i could do this more. i haven't lately, but i would/will.

18. move to and/or prepare to move to nashville.

um, this is on hold, until #6 is in order.

19. read and complete at least one book.

i finished wally lamb's 'i'll fly away' ...and am almost done with tananarive due's 'black rose' (which is an extremely inspiring piece of work). up next, chelsea handler's books, starting with 'my horizontal life: a collection of one-night stands'.

20. send mom flower 'just because'.

not yet, but i will, and that's a promise.

21. write/send at least 3 letters.

i've made pretty good on this one. i wrote/sent my twin a 75pg letter. i also wrote my grandma a letter. that leaves just one more...i heard lil wayne wants his fans to write, that may be #3.

22. stand firm in what i believe to be right.

always.

23. start buying lotto tickets (weekly).

well, i've bought some lotto tickets, maybe not weekly, but i've bought some. clearly, i didn't win.

24. go on another cruise.

cruise #3 awaits me. not so sure if that'll happen this year.

25. reunite with sarah.

that's on schedule, like i said, 144 days!

26. professional mani/pedi once a month.

um, i've given myself mani/pedis...not so much professional, but, at least it's being done...and even more than once a month.

27. buy more underwear.

i did!!

28. never order the same thing twice.

i've actually been doing a pretty good job of this, but, i've decided to amend this one. if it's a place i haven't been to in a long time, i think it's okay to get my favorite dish.

29. discover new authors.

i've decided to amend this one too. i have a zillion books i've bought, and haven't read, i need to get through those before i discover new authors...well, right after i read chelsea's books.

30. start attending church regularly.

fail. fail. fail. i need to start. i know.

31. start reading the newspaper, daily.

well, i have definitely been doing a great job of this, maybe not every single day, but at least 75%. learning so much.

k...well, that's all for now. i hope to post a real entry sometime later this week. but for now, i just wanted to make good on my promise to zizzymane, to post something this weekend (even though it's monday, it's still technically my weekend. thanks for keepin' me in line, zizz (by the way, if you're not following him on twitter, start!).

later gators.